"Young master, that's the full account of the incident and the explanation provided by Shirou."
"Good. Thank you, Sakura. Please compile the report and fax it to Masamune-sama's office. Also, pass on our thanks to Shirou. The family will reward him after this incident."
Yuan Zhisheng hadn't even changed out of his battle-damaged outfit—he just threw on a black Execution Bureau coat and rushed straight back to the Sakuya Eight Families' headquarters.
"Since we've confirmed the enemy has retreated, notify the Crows to continue securing the site. All civilian witnesses must be 'processed,' the affected roads sealed, and casualty reports compiled as quickly as possible."
"Oh, and interrogate the Aoiya members we captured—hand them over to Yasha. Although, I suspect they're throwaways from the Fierce Ghost Faction… not much useful intel to gain."
He had been working nonstop since the incident began. While delegating and sorting through the aftermath, he was also in constant communication with the clan's head, Tachibana Masamune, and had already held meetings with the family's respected elders.
Though retired from internal affairs, those elders still wielded vast influence across the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and civil service. Whenever a major clan event arose, their connections were indispensable in shaping government stances and media narratives.
But this incident was massive—suppressing the truth would be no small feat. Yuan Zhisheng even feared that if the casualty numbers leaked, the public would demand scapegoats to resign and bow in apology.
Leaving that task to the elders, he next contacted the family-controlled Iwanami Research Institute—run jointly by the Yuan and Miyamoto branches. The institute was also responsible for the super AI "Kaguya-hime" project.
He spoke with Miyamoto Shio, the genius in charge—an alumni of Kassel College's 95th Applied Alchemy class. Despite receiving offers from multiple departments upon graduation, he rejected them all to return to Japan and lead his own project at Iwanami.
Yuan Zhisheng asked Miyamoto Shio to immediately activate the trial version of the Kaguya-hime system to monitor and erase any real footage or data related to the incident online.
Finally, he entered the office styled in traditional Showa-era decor, walking past priceless ukiyo-e art and stopping at the massive window.
Outside Tachibana Masamune's office, the sky had darkened unnaturally. Though it was still day, the clouds were thick and ink-like.
A storm was coming.
Yuan Zhisheng sat across from Masamune and broke the silence. "Father, you saw the report, right? The Fierce Ghost Faction hit us hard this time."
Masamune opened the folder, his voice hoarse and heavy. "Are the intel sources reliable? This unheard-of 'Heroic Spirit'—it actually appeared on the enemy's side?"
He scanned the devastating data. The terms alone were horrifying—"Heroic Spirit," "spiritualization," "multi-colored whip of immense destruction."
That battle wasn't just high-tier—it rivaled a Dragon King-level confrontation.
They finally witnessed the scale of Shirou's power firsthand. The Sakuya Eight Families now clearly realized that the battlefield Shirou stood on was one their so-called "Emperor" could barely approach.
Worse still—the Fierce Ghost Faction had somehow acquired Heroic Spirit technology. And their Heroic Spirit was on par with Shirou.
"I agree with Shirou. They were the only force among the known factions who'd want to attack both us and him at such a calculated time."
Yuan Zhisheng frowned. "He said someone was targeting our 'god'—the one involved in the Odin incident. We assumed it was them, and it seems they really are waging war to claim that secret."
"He gave us the Aoiya lead. We acted on it, only to find their boss replaced. And during the database investigation—bam, ambushed."
"No doubt—it was a deliberate strike to stop our investigation and eliminate both me and Shirou."
"Zhisheng… we underestimated them. This isn't just about claiming divine secrets."
Masamune crossed his fingers and sank into the shadows behind the desk.
"—From the Heroic Spirit they deployed, it's clear they've already allied with outside powers and unearthed even more secrets than us. They likely stole a god's remains from a divine tomb and used its power to create Heroic Spirits. That's why they've become arrogant—plotting to replace the Sakuya Eight Families entirely!"
Masamune's tone turned icy as he gazed out the window, as if already seeing the war on the horizon.
If, as Shirou said, this power came from using the souls of the dead, then it meant the Fierce Ghost Faction had obtained divine authority—or struck a deal with a god.
If they managed to mass-produce Heroic Spirits, they could upend the world.
"We must act. Call all clan leaders. Also, cancel all Kassel study programs for our clan members. It's time we find a way to counter these Heroic Spirits—if necessary, we'll use Eriri. And… it's time for total war."
"Will that really work?" Yuan Zhisheng asked hesitantly.
He used to follow his father's orders without question—but Masamune had made repeated misjudgments lately, including underestimating Shirou and now possibly misreading the enemy again.
Yes, they still had Eriri, the hidden secret weapon. But she was a blade too sharp—it could cut allies as easily as enemies.
What if she went berserk?
For a moment, his mind drifted to another figure—Shirou, who had repeatedly saved them, provided clues, and even fought back the tide.
Wouldn't asking for his help be… more reliable?
"Zhisheng, you saw the Heroic Spirit's power. We must stop them. It's not about 'can we?'—it's about 'we have no choice!'"
Masamune slammed his fist onto the desk.
"The Fierce Ghost Faction was our creation—a devil nurtured in the shadows. Now it wants to devour us. We can't let that happen. The sins we've allowed to fester must be cleansed by our own hands!"
Yuan Zhisheng paused, then recalled his duty as Emperor, and his youthful dream of becoming a 'hero of justice.'
He swallowed his doubts.
"Fine… if you're that determined, I'll help."
——
Somewhere deep in the mountains, in a hidden underground facility—
"Damn it! Damn it! You bastard, Bondarev! So proud of your Heroic Spirit, huh?! Think it makes you special?!"
Herzog raged and hurled a bottle of Beluga vodka to the floor. The luxury liquor shattered, the rich scent spilling through the cracks in the floor.
He knew the Fierce Ghost Faction couldn't possibly possess Heroic Spirit tech.
Why? Because he was the leader of both sides—Tachibana Masamune of the Sakuya Eight Families… and "Ou-shō," king of the Fierce Ghost Faction.
His secret? This very lab produced clone bodies that let him survive even attacks from someone like Kazama Ruri.
He had played both roles for years, manipulating the entire nation's hybrid society.
The Heroic Spirit… had to be a third party.
And only one man could've pulled this off—Bondarev.
Bondarev had been the one to tell him the secrets of the dragons. The one who guided him to this path. The one Herzog "killed" by sinking the Lenin in the sea.
But clearly, Bondarev had faked his death and used it to explore the sunken divine ruins—digging up godly remains and unlocking ancient seals.
Now he'd revealed his hand.
The Tokyo incident was a theatrical spotlight dance—Bondarev's "greatest works" performing for the world to see.
Herzog could almost hear his mocking voice:
"Look, Herzog, my old friend… I don't need to play both sides like you. I don't need to hide in the shadows. I act openly, and still you can do nothing but watch. Because power decides everything."
Herzog trembled with fear.
Heroic Spirits… spiritualized bodies…
He swallowed hard and glanced around the empty lab.
Was there… one watching him right now?
One already de-spiritualized and waiting in the shadows to kill him?
Even sleep might not bring peace tonight.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]